Two things decide what your callers get. Live or Paused says whether the receptionist answers your number at all. Publishing says which version of it they hear. You can change settings and the call flow as much as you like: callers only hear them once you publish.
You need to be an admin of your team to do any of this.
Put it live
Click Receptionist in the sidebar.
On the Overview, click Go live.
Or click the Settings tab, then Answering, and turn on the switch under Answering calls.
It starts answering your number straight away. The pill at the top says Live.
Pause it
On the Overview, click Pause.
Or turn the switch off under Answering calls in Settings. While it's paused, every call rings your fallback number instead, and none of them use your receptionist minutes.
Publish your changes
When you've changed its settings or call flow, the Overview says You have changes that aren't published yet.
Check the changes with a test call if you like. See How to make a test call.
Click Publish changes.
Calls follow the new version from the next one that rings. You can also publish from the Call flow tab, with a note of what changed. See How to change your call flow.
Some changes don't need publishing and apply from the next call: When it answers, your fallback number, your phone number, who it books visits with, your Business Profile and what's on What your receptionist knows.
Why is Go live greyed out?
Something it needs to answer calls is missing. Settings lists it under Before it can go live, and the Overview under Still to do, each with Fix:
Publish your call flow: calls can't be answered until it's published.
Get a phone number: pick the number callers ring.
Fix your call flow's problems: only stops it if you've never published.
Voice service: this is ours to sort. If it isn't ticked, contact us.
These are recommended, but don't stop it going live:
Add your mobile or Add a fallback number: where calls go when it's paused or can't answer.
Set your service area: so it only books visits you can get to.
Connect your team's calendars: it can only avoid clashes for people whose calendars it can see.
What do the statuses mean?
Live: it's answering your number.
Paused: you've paused it. Calls ring your fallback number.
Not live yet: it's never been put live. Calls ring your fallback number.
Not set up: nobody's set it up yet. See How to set up your receptionist.
I've published, so why isn't it answering?
Publishing doesn't put it live. Click Go live on the Overview as well.